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Association of Bridal Consultants Purpose: Increase professionalism in the wedding industry and increase the recognition of wedding professionals. Services Provided: Training, advertising, media relations, referrals. Membership Requirements: Membership Cost: $150 to $550 depending on category. Conferences: 30-40 seminars worldwide. 2003 Conference on Sept. 11, Kansas City, MO Contact Information: |
Association of Bridal Retailers Purpose: Promote, foster, educate and encourage the retail store owner/operator. The focus is to assist small, medium and large owners/operators in every facet of their business. Promote, foster, educate, encourage and develop standard guidelines, ethics and working relations between suppliers, vendors, manufacturers and bridal retail stores. Services Provided: Educational seminars presented at most buying markets. Opportunities to discuss issues with some of the most successful and prominent bridal store owners in the country. Access to copies of legal contracts, forms and opinions by antitrust attorneys. Membership Requirements: Any retail bridal store or organization, owner/operator engaged in retail sales conducted out of an established retail brick-and-mortar store for bridal and women’s formalwear shall be eligible for membership provided that the retail sale of bridal and women’s formal wear is a primary function of the establishment. Meetings/Conferences: Year-end retreat and planning session with expert guest speakers that are held each December at a prestigious resort. Current Membership: Approx. 100 members Membership Cost: Contact Information: |
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Association of Wedding Gown Specialists Purpose: Forum for open exchange of information and expertise to achieve the highest quality cleaning and service. Services Provided: Education and professional development for specialty gown cleaners. Includes annual meetings, quarterly newsletter, 24-hour telephone coverage for resolving technical problems and for bridal and bridal salon referrals, networking with industry leaders, networking with bridal manufacturers and bridal salons, special pricing for cleaners’ supplies. Membership Requirements: Must be full-service, technically proficient cleaner known to a member of the Board of Directors of the Association and be willing and able to participate fully in Association programs. Membership Cost: Based on market area. Current Membership: 111 members Meetings/Conferences: Annual meeting held in February in various cities in US and Canada. Training seminars scheduled twice/year in Gahanna, Ohio. Contact information: |
Association for Wedding Professionals, International Purpose: To provide a central source of information and referrals - for those planning weddings and those who service weddings. Services Provided: Monthly mailing lists of brides to members in their local areas, listing on the AfWPi web site, discounts on advertising with many bridal publications and bridal shows, discounts on business services such as insurance and merchant credit card services. We provide seminars on every aspect of running and marketing a wedding business, include a trade show, give an opportunity to network with other professionals and offer tours of wedding locations. Membership Requirements: Must agree to follow the AfWPi Code of Ethics, complete a membership application and pay a yearly fee. Meetings/Conferences: AfWPi World Conference October 12-17, 2003Half Moon Club, Montego Bay, Jamaica Cost: $175 per year with a one-time set-up fee of $25. Current membership: 400 members worldwide Contact Information: |
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Independent Wedding Consultants of America Purpose: Become a Certified Professional Wedding Consultant – Wedding Consultant Training Course Services: Complete, Comprehensive 11 Session Course. Receive I.W.C.A. Certification upon program completion. Correspondence and Instructional courses available Nationwide. Visa & MasterCard accepted. Tuition: $653 (Includes all course materials.) Contact Information: |
June Wedding Purpose: An association for Event Professionals. Our purpose is to build greater professionalism and marketing skills in the wedding industry through educational and seminar programs. Services Provided: Networking and Marketing through Membership. Development of professionalism and marketing skills through our training and certification programs for people who want to enter into the industry as Wedding Consultants and to those vendors and site managers already in the industry. Membership Requirements: Presentation of application, referral by three known professionals in the industry where applicant works, health permit if in the food industry and proof of liability insurance. Membership Cost: $175 for Sole Proprietors, $275 for Corporation, Int’l Businesses and publications. Current Membership: 300 Members Contact Information: |
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National Black Bridal Association Purpose: The Nationalbba meets the needs of the African American community. Our mission is to provide a “top-notch” group of professional wedding experts dedicated to African American weddings. Membership Benefits: The Nationalbba consists of an outstanding array of specialized service/product providers who are willing to assist in achieving cultural and elegant wedding experiences. Our services are complementary to brides and their families. Internet-site/listing/link, listing in guide, referrals, association special offers/discounts, education, co-op advertising, consulting services and networking lists. Quarterly newsletters are planned for 2003 & 2004. Membership Requirements: An organization or individual must become an “active” member, maintain contact with the statewide coordinator, and agree and abide by the “Codes of Guarantee” (see our website). Upon next year’s membership renewal, you may be asked to provide additional growth results or achievements. Membership Contact Info: |
National Bridal Service Purpose: Committed to helping members achieve and maintain a high level of professionalism and success in every aspect of business-management, training, merchandising, advertising, education and market research - with the goal of continuously improving cash flow. We give the advantages of a national company without compromising your independence. Membership Requirements: Independently-owned bridal apparel stores with hanging stock that promote excellent service and strive for the highest standards. Membership Categories: Management Support Service, National Bridal Advertising Network, Buying Service, Education: Registered Bridal Consultant employee certification/training program. Contact Info: |
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Weddings Beautiful Worldwide Purpose: The most comprehensive, home study certification program available for wedding planners. Along with the title Certified Wedding Specialist, comes a wealth of practical knowledge covering both establishing your business and the many aspects of wedding planning/coordination. Membership Requirements: Enrollment in the Weddings Beautiful course. Services include bi-monthly mailings and seminars. Membership Cost: $119 semi-annually Contact Info: |
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